It’s not a religious holiday like Christmas. Pastor Appreciation Month isn’t a natural holiday, like New Year’s Day. But here are seven reasons I think churches shouldn’t celebrate Pastor Appreciation Month: 1. It is artificial If your church still chooses to celebrate it, I don’t plan on fighting you over it. I understand that I am probably in the minority. It’s not that I don’t think it’s biblical to appreciate pastors I just don’t think Pastor Appreciation Month is the best way to go about it. But I’ve read startlingly few pieces questioning whether or not we should actually have this weirdly-niche holiday in the first place. I’ve read guides for how to give better gifts during this month. I have read posts from other pastors, church leaders, and church members expressing the necessity of a month dedicated to appreciating pastors. It may seem strange that I, a pastor, would lament that this month has been unofficially but nonetheless nationally recognized as “Pastor Appreciation Month.” And yet, I do. Unfortunately, it’s also Pastor Appreciation Month. Fall colors in the trees, lots of crisp mornings and clear nights, the sudden availability of pumpkin spice-flavored everything, and more. What ideas do you have for appreciating your pastor year-round? Share below!Īnd if you’re looking for a Pastor Appreciation Month gift, check out Logos digital gift cards or beautiful books with free shipping from Lexham Press.As far as months go, October really stands out. Who doesn’t like a surprise party? Feel free to sub this out for whatever would make your pastor smile the biggest and work best for your church. Throw a surprise pastor-appreciation pie social after church. For example, “I will send Pastor a note of encouragement or gift card three times this year.” Then, add it to your calendar so you get a reminder. Here’s an idea: set a goal for yourself to make sure you don’t accidentally go from one Pastor Appreciation Month to the next without doing anything in between. This one’s both self-explanatory and really easy, with all the options for electronic greeting cards and digital gift cards. Send cards of encouragement here and there when it’s a busy season, and maybe a gift card too. And even if your church already does something, sending your pastor an individual note of thanks or a birthday card helps make those days even more special. If you can, plan for your whole church to acknowledge and celebrate these days. Acknowledge your pastor’s birthday and their “pastorversary” at your church. There’s something uniquely uplifting about being told “I’m praying for you” and knowing it’s the truth. Don’t only pray for your pastor-tell them you’re praying. If there are visitors watching, make them feel welcome. If there’s a question asked on the live stream, answer. (Obviously this won’t look quite the same if you’re not attending in person, but you can still be a huge blessing by being faithful and involved. Now imagine the opposite: a larger crowd than usual, looks of earnest attention, and joy at being in God’s house. Picture looking out at a half-empty sanctuary or stepping up to preach, only to be greeted by people who look like they’d rather be just about anywhere else. If you can’t truthfully say it was a great message, you can still be an encourager: tell your pastor “Thank you for studying for that message” or share something the Lord taught you. I’m so thankful Pastor preached that,” and we never say it? This doesn’t mean saying, “Great message, Pastor!” when you don’t mean it or tossing out that compliment at the end of every service like a “Bless you!” after someone sneezes.īut how often do we think, “Wow, that was powerful. Here are six ways to do just that! The first three ways are from a pastor, and the second three are from a pastor’s wife. And it’s easy to forget they need encouragement, too-and not just for one month of the year. They lead the flock through the good times and the bad. Pastors provide much-needed spiritual nourishment. Facebook Twitter Reddit Pinterest Email LinkedInĪccording to Hallmark, Clergy Appreciation Month (aka Pastor Appreciation Month) started in 1992 “with a mission of uplifting and encouraging pastors, missionaries, and religious workers.” 1 I don’t know about you, but I think it was long overdue.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |